A Bangladesh passport application starts online at the E-Passport portal (epassport.gov.bd), moves to an in-person appointment for document checks and biometrics, and ends with collection of a biometric booklet issued by the Department of Immigration and Passports or a Bangladesh mission abroad. The same pipeline covers first-time applicants, renewals, and replacements, with different documents and fees at each stage.
Who Qualifies and Which Booklet to Choose
Any Bangladeshi national who can verify citizenship is eligible for an Ordinary passport, which covers personal travel, study, business, and employment abroad. Validity depends on age: applicants aged 18 to 65 get a 10-year passport, and those under 18 or over 65 get a 5-year passport.
You also choose between a 48-page and a 64-page booklet. The larger booklet costs more but gives frequent travelers room for visa stamps and entry records, which can spare you a mid-validity replacement.
Documents You Need
First-time adult applicants need a National Identity Card (NID) as the primary identity document. Your application entries must match the NID exactly; small mismatches in spelling or date of birth will stall the file.
For minors, or as an alternative for adults, a Birth Registration Certificate (BRC) works instead — it must be the 17-digit, online-verifiable version in English. Children’s applications are submitted by a parent or legal guardian, who typically presents their own NID and passport alongside the child’s birth certificate.
Every applicant also brings a printed summary of the online application and the fee payment receipt to the appointment. If you are applying at an embassy or consulate abroad, add proof of lawful residency in the host country, such as a visa or residence permit.1Embassy of Bangladesh, Florida. E-Passport Requirements
Bring originals and photocopies. If a document is missing at the appointment, you will be turned away and have to rebook.
How the Application Works
Create an account on the E-Passport portal and fill out the form. The system cross-checks your entries against the NID or BRC database, so get names, dates, and spellings right the first time. Corrections after submission add weeks.2Department of Immigration and Passports. Five Steps to Your E-Passport
After you submit the form and pay the fee, book an in-person appointment. Applicants inside Bangladesh choose a passport office; applicants abroad choose the nearest Bangladesh embassy or consulate that handles passport work. Every applicant must appear in person, including infants and young children.
The appointment does two things. Officers verify your original documents against the application, and staff capture biometrics: fingerprints, an iris scan, and a digital photograph.1Embassy of Bangladesh, Florida. E-Passport Requirements You leave with a delivery slip that carries your Application ID for tracking.
Fees
Three variables set the price: booklet size (48 or 64 pages), validity (5 or 10 years), and delivery speed. Regular is the cheapest tier. Express costs roughly 50% more. Super Express is the fastest and priciest, and it is generally only available for applications submitted inside Bangladesh.
Inside Bangladesh
Domestic fees are quoted in Bangladeshi Taka. A 48-page passport with 5-year validity at Regular speed is approximately BDT 4,025; the same booklet at Express speed runs around BDT 6,325. A 10-year, 64-page booklet at Express speed costs considerably more.3Department of Immigration and Passports. E-Passport Fees
At Missions Abroad
Applications submitted at Bangladesh embassies and consulates are priced in US dollars and carry higher rates than domestic ones. The base fee for a 48-page, 5-year passport at regular speed starts at approximately USD 100, with larger booklets and longer validity costing more. All consular transactions at overseas missions also carry a mandatory 10% surcharge for the Wage Earners’ Welfare Fund under the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board Act of 2018.4Embassy of Bangladesh, Los Angeles. E-Passport Fees
Replacement applications for lost or damaged passports carry higher fees than standard new or renewal applications wherever you apply. Confirm the current schedule on the portal or with your mission, since surcharges can vary.3Department of Immigration and Passports. E-Passport Fees
Processing Time and Tracking
Inside Bangladesh, Regular delivery runs roughly 15 to 21 working days and Express runs 7 to 10 working days. Super Express can be as short as a few days, but availability depends on the office and current demand.3Department of Immigration and Passports. E-Passport Fees
Applications submitted at overseas missions typically take longer, and Express or Super Express may not be offered at every location. Budget extra time during peak travel seasons.
Track progress by entering the Application ID from your delivery slip on the status page of the portal.5Department of Immigration and Passports. Check Application Status You will receive an electronic notification when the booklet is ready, and you collect it in person with your delivery slip at the office or mission where you applied.
Renewing an Existing Passport
Renewal uses the same online-to-appointment pipeline, with lighter document requirements because your identity is already on file. You need your existing passport, whether still valid or recently expired, plus your NID or BRC. The system pulls your prior records, so renewals usually move faster than a first-time application.
If your previous document was an older Machine Readable Passport rather than an E-Passport, the biometric enrollment at your appointment is a full capture rather than a quick verification, because the older system did not store the same data. Once the new passport is issued, the old one is physically canceled and returned to you, and its records are linked to the new booklet.
Do not wait until your current passport expires. Some countries require at least six months of remaining validity for entry, so starting renewal with roughly a year left gives you a buffer, especially from overseas.
Replacing a Lost or Damaged Passport
Replacement is designed to prevent fraud and involves more steps than a standard renewal. The first is a police report. Inside Bangladesh, that means a General Diary (GD) entry at your local station; abroad, file the equivalent report where the loss or damage occurred. Without it, your application will not be accepted.
Prepare a sworn affidavit describing when and where the passport was lost or damaged and what happened, and attach a photocopy of the lost passport if you have one. On the online form, select the “Lost” or “Damaged” option rather than the standard new or renewal category. This triggers a higher fee and flags the file for additional review.
In most cases a passport officer will interview you before approving the replacement, covering the details in your affidavit and police report. The interview is routine, but inconsistencies between your written and verbal accounts can delay approval. Keep your account straightforward and consistent.
Applying From Outside Bangladesh
The overseas process mirrors the domestic one in structure but differs on a few points. You apply on the same portal, but select a Bangladesh embassy or consulate as your appointment location. Not every mission handles passport work, so confirm with your nearest one before starting. You also need documentation of lawful presence in the host country, which domestic applicants do not.1Embassy of Bangladesh, Florida. E-Passport Requirements
Expect higher fees, both from the USD base rates and the 10% Welfare Fund surcharge, and longer processing than domestic timelines. Super Express is rarely available at missions.
Emergency Travel Documents
If you lose your passport abroad and need to travel before a full replacement can be processed, Bangladesh missions can issue an Emergency Travel Document. This is a temporary, limited-use document that allows you to return to Bangladesh or, in some cases, continue essential travel. It is not a substitute for a full passport and cannot be renewed or extended. Contact the nearest embassy or consulate directly, as the process and fees differ from standard passport applications.
Dual Nationality
Bangladesh generally does not recognize dual citizenship, with one exception relevant to many applicants abroad. Bangladeshi-origin citizens who hold nationality in certain countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and European nations, can apply for a Dual Nationality Certificate. The certificate makes it lawful to hold a Bangladesh passport alongside a foreign one. Without it, holding two passports can create legal complications. If you have acquired foreign citizenship and want to keep your Bangladesh passport, apply for the certificate through your nearest Bangladesh mission before your renewal comes due.